Embodied Relating Lab: An Afternoon of Presence, Connection and Play

Hello and a warm welcome!

I am so excited to invite you to our first community gathering - a Sunday afternoon filled with a delicious range of authentic relating games, embodied connection & presence practices.

This space is for you if you are:

- Seeking to connect with others in a way that is fun yet goes deeper than what normal social interactions allow for
- Curious to explore your relational edges, blind spots and curiosities in a nervous-system attuned, supportive group space
- Excited to get some new connection tools to integrate into your relationships
- Looking for a community rooted in the values of gentleness, heartfulness, connection, playfulness, honesty and appreciation of nuance
- Are someone on the path of deepening your self-awareness, emotional intelligence and embodiment
- Are feeling a pull to come - this is the best reason!

What is Authentic Relating?

Authentic relating is an established relational practice of bringing mindful, curious, full attention to what happens to us when we connect with others. In our usual ways of connecting, there is typically little to no space to notice what is actually going on in our bodies, hearts and minds. Typically, there is no space to check how we are impacting others, nor to reveal how we are being impacted by them.

Often times, connections and conversations tend to happen fast, sometimes too way too fast for our nervous systems - yet we have our ways to cope. We may rely upon our familiar relational patterns that keep us safe, hide our vulnerability, put on familiar social masks and kind of "make it". This can be efficient in a certain way, yet it often leaves us deeply unfulfilled, as if something essential has been missed, yet again.

Authentic Relating offers a very different way of experiencing connection. Through some key principles that support the practice and easy-to-follow structures, called games, we get to slow down and gently explore all the juicy stuff that usually goes unnoticed when we are in connection with another person: how our body responds to different cues, what makes us feel connected or disconnected, what assumptions and stories we unconsciously make about others and their perception of us, places we tend to avoid...and so much more!

What I love about Authentic Relating, is that people often leave the space feeling deeply seen and met, enlivened and more spacious and secure in who they are. I have experienced it many times myself as a participant, hence my desire to share this practice with others.

What to expect:

We’ll start with a gentle embodied practice, then move through a few connection games with space for integration and reflection between each one, allowing you to digest and embody what’s arising. The structure will be held fluidly, allowing for things to be adjusted to suit the needs of the group.

Registration:

To reserve your place, please book via MeetUp or email me at belash.ksenia@gmail.com with your name and preferred payment method (PayPal, MBWay, or bank transfer). I’ll send you the payment details and your spot will be confirmed once payment is received.

Spaces are limited to 12 participants to ensure an intimate, connected experience.

Practicalities:

Location: Agora Studio (nearest metro stop Intendente), Rua Rafael de Andrade, 23, 2nd floor

Time: 3 pm - 5 pm. You are welcome to arrive earlier, the doors will be open from 2.45

What to wear & bring: we might do some gentle movement, so please wear clothes that you feel comfortable to be and move in, you may want to bring layers for extra comfort. You may also want to bring a notebook and pen, in case you want to journal.

Cost: 20 euro, payable in advance via PayPal, MBWay or bank transfer; if you are currently facing financial adversity but want to come, please get in touch.

About the facilitator:

I am an experienced relational therapist, group facilitator, holistic photographer and Somatic Experiencing practitioner in training. I started holding spaces of embodied connection back in 2017 and am still in love with the field and the journey of discovering what is possible when we listen deeply to our experience, felt sense and the inner movement that wants to come through.

Some of my favourite things are intuitive movement, singing, forest bathing, clowning and exploring new places - within and without.